Bank Group ContributionMore than $1.45 billion in competitiveness projects have been sourced from the competitiveness programs through 27 projects under active implementation, almost entirely sourced from... Show More + IDA/IBRD funds. An additional 19 projects worth $1.566 billion are in the design phase. Together these 40 projects are spread worldwide: 53 percent are located in Africa, 5 percent in East Asia and the Pacific, 8 percent in Europe and Central Asia, 15 percent in Latin America or the Caribbean, 8 percent in the Middle East and North Africa, and 13 percent in South Asia. The Competitive Industries practice is also leading 56 analytical and advisory activities spread through various countries and regions: 66 percent are in Africa, 2 percent in East Asia and the Pacific, 5 percent in Europe and Central Asia, 7 percent in Latin America or the Caribbean, 11 percent in the Middle East and North Africa, 7 percent in South Asia, and 2 percent in global initiatives. The CI practice leverag Show Less -

Bank ContributionBoth StAR and FMI are advisory units providing strategic counsel to clients. Some lending has, in the past, incorporated AML/CFT-related components – either in the context of Development... Show More + Policy Operations or Investment Operations. There are also some examples of Technical Assistance loans that included AML/CFT components. Such lending operations were then led by the respective Regions, with FMI providing technical support.The advisory services described above include:1) technical assistance – through workshops, mentorships, hands-on trainings and advisory services supporting countries in developing effective laws, regulations and institutional frameworks; assessing the risk of money laundering and the financing of terrorism on their economies and financial systems; training financial-sector supervisors and investigators, prosecutors, or judges; and designing and implementing effective asset-disclosure systems for public officials.2) policy development – through collabo Show Less -

WASHINGTON, October 2, 2013 - The Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) announced that it has approved its first grants for projects where civil society and governments collaborate to resolve... Show More + critical governance problems in developing countries. The GPSA grants for a total of more than US$9 million over the next five years will provide strategic support to 12 civil society organizations (CSOs) in 10 developing countries. An additional grant was allocated to Mexican NGO FUNDAR to develop the GPSA Knowledge Portal, to be launched later in 2013.“For these countries, the projects that the GPSA has selected will be crucial in addressing some of the fundamental governance challenges in various areas of development. By encouraging increased transparency and accountability, these countries can achieve better service delivery to the most vulnerable people,” said Sanjay Pradhan, World Bank Group Vice President for Change, Knowledge and Learning and Chair of the GPSA Steering Commit Show Less -

Washington, D.C., October 23, 2012—Local entrepreneurs in developing countries are finding it easier to do business than at any time in the last 10 years, highlighting the significant progress that has... Show More + been made in improving business regulatory practices across the globe, according to a new report released today by the World Bank and IFC.The report, Doing Business 2013: Smarter Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises, marks the 10th edition of the Doing Business series. Over the past decade, these reports have recorded nearly 2,000 regulatory reforms implemented by 180 economies. The reforms have yielded major benefits for local entrepreneurs across the globe. For example:Since 2005, the average time to start a business has fallen from 50 days to 30—and in low-income economies the average has been reduced by half.In the past eight years, the average time to transfer property fell by 35 days, from 90 to 55, and the average cost by 1.2 percentage points—from 7.1 percent of the Show Less -

Washington, October 1, 2012 -- In developing countries, jobs are a cornerstone of development, with a pay off far beyond income alone. They are critical for reducing poverty, making cities work, and providing... Show More + youth with alternatives to violence, says a new World Bank report. The World Development Report 2013: Jobs stresses the role of strong private sector led growth in creating jobs and outlines how jobs that do the most for development can spur a virtuous cycle. The report finds that poverty falls as people work their way out of hardship and as jobs empower women to invest more in their children. Efficiency increases as workers get better at what they do, as more productive jobs appear, and as less productive ones disappear. Societies flourish as jobs foster diversity and provide alternatives to conflict. “A good job can change a person’s life, and the right jobs can transform entire societies. Governments need to move jobs to center stage to promote prosperity and fight Show Less -

The 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund will take place in Lima, Peru, in October 2015, following a vote by the Boards of Governors of the two institutions.... Show More + The Annual Meetings—which bring together ministers of finance and central bank governors from the institutions’ 188 member countries—provide a unique opportunity for a broad dialogue on issues of global economic importance. They serve to discuss international economic and financial developments, the state of the global economy, and policies to reduce poverty and promote inclusive economic growth. The Annual Meetings also provide a forum for civil society, the private sector, academics and others to engage in discussions on economic issues.The last time the Annual Meetings were held in Latin America was in 1967 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Show Less -

Washington, September 13, 2012 – It is time to rethink the role of the state in the financial sector, so that governments can better balance the need for credit and emergency support for banks with measures... Show More + to promote transparency and competition when crises erupt, says a new World Bank report.“Governments need to provide strong supervision and ensure healthy competition in the financial sector. They also need to support financial infrastructure, such as better quality credit information that is shared more systematically,” says World Bank Group Managing Director Mahmoud Mohieldin. "But the mixed results of their direct role in issuing credits merits close examination. Indeed, as we emerge from the global financial crisis, governments may want to consider shifting toward indirect interventions."The Global Financial Development Report: Rethinking the Role of the State in Finance, examines how financial systems around the world fared during the global financial crisis. Coincidi Show Less -

WASHINGTON, August 30, 2012 – Global food prices soared by 10 percent in July from a month ago, with maize and soybean reaching all-time peaks due to an unprecedented summer of droughts and high temperatures... Show More + in both the United States and Eastern Europe, according to the World Bank Group’s latest Food Price Watch report.From June to July, maize and wheat rose by 25 percent each, soybeans by 17 percent, and only rice went down, by 4 percent. Overall, the World Bank’s Food Price Index, which tracks the price of internationally traded food commodities, was 6 percent higher than in July of last year, and 1 percent over the previous peak of February 2011.“Food prices rose again sharply threatening the health and well-being of millions of people,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “Africa and the Middle East are particularly vulnerable, but so are people in other countries where the prices of grains have gone up abruptly.”Overall, food prices between April and July continued Show Less -

“We cannot allow short-term food-price spikes to have damaging long-term consequences for the world's most poor and vulnerable” – World Bank Group President Jim Yong KimWASHINGTON, July 30, 2012—Given... Show More + the exceptional drought in the US, current crop conditions in other grain producing regions, and the resulting increase in international food prices, the World Bank today expressed concern for the impacts of this volatility on the world's poor, who are highly vulnerable to increases in food prices.“When food prices rise sharply, families cope by pulling their kids out of school and eating cheaper, less nutritious food, which can have catastrophic life-long effects on the social, physical, and mental well being of millions of young people,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “The World Bank and our partners are monitoring this situation closely so we can help governments put policies in place to help people better cope.” “In the short-term, measures such as school fe Show Less -

“Ending AIDS and Poverty”Your Excellencies and honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and friends,As we look back on the history of this epidemic, it is hard to say that there is any one... Show More + moment when the tide began to turn. Because the truth is that we have been turning back the tide of AIDS, step by painful step, for 30 years.And at nearly every turn, it is the activists, and their communities, that have led the way.It was activists and communities who devised safer sex, promoted condom use, needle exchange and virtually all the behavioral prevention we use today.It was activists who transformed drug development and regulatory processes, and involved patients in clinical research, cutting drug approval times in half in the global north.It was activists in Durban in 2000 who began to push for access to antiretrovirals in the developing world and who kept pushing and are pushing still for them to be affordable and available to everyone who needs them, everywhere.And it wa Show Less -

Global Development at a Pivotal Time: A Conversation with World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong KimMR. TALBOTT: My name is Strobe Talbott and it is my great pleasure to welcome you here to Brookings... Show More + this afternoon for a conversation with the new President of the World Bank Group.Whenever we have a distinguished visitor here to Brookings, in particular--and particularly if it's somebody who is coming here for the first time, we're always careful to check with his protocol people on exactly how the distinguished visitor wants to be addressed, whether we use "Doctor" or "Honorable," whatever, and the word came back "Jim."[Laughter.]MR. TALBOTT: So, welcome, Jim. It's really great to have you here. A couple of your successors, your most immediate successors, were frequent visitors here, particularly Bob Zoellick as recently as just a couple of weeks ago as he offered some reflections on his way out of the office that you now occupy.And Bob's pred Show Less -

WASHINGTON DC, July 3, 2012 — New data showing a two-billion cubic meter increase in flared gas in 2011 over the previous year is a warning that efforts to reduce flaring need to be sustained and even... Show More + scaled up, said officials with the World Bank-led Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership (GGFR).The slight increase in flaring from 138 billion cubic meters in 2010 to 140 bcm in 2011, revealed in latest satellite data, is due largely to increased hydrocarbon production in Russia and shale oil and gas operations in the US state of North Dakota. While not significant when viewed against the longer-term 20% drop in flaring since 2005 — from 172 to 140 bcm — the new increase is a warning sign, World Bank officials said. Gas flaring reductions since 2005 have cut greenhouse gas emissions by a volume equivalent to that emitted by some 16 million cars.“The small increase underlines the importance for countries and companies to sustain and even accelerate efforts to reduce flaring of gas Show Less -

I am honored to assume the Presidency of the World Bank Group. I do so at a moment that is pivotal for the global economy, and defining for the World Bank as an institution.The global economy remains highly... Show More + vulnerable. We need to boost confidence in markets and within the private sector. And we need to boost confidence among citizens that our economic system and policies can deliver more sustainable, fair and inclusive economic growth.As a global development institution, the World Bank has an economic and moral imperative to help address risks to global growth, no matter where they emerge. A strong global economy benefits all countries; a weak global economy makes all countries vulnerable. It is urgent that European countries take all necessary measures to restore stability because their actions will impact growth in all regions of the world.Over the coming months, I will be engaging closely with clients, partners and my colleagues in the Bank Group to take stock of the challenges ahea Show Less -

MR. MILLS: Good afternoon, everyone. Thanks for joining us for this roundtable. My name is Richard Mills. I know many of you; welcome. I... Show More + want to set up a couple ground rules to begin with. First of all, we're going to have this session embargoed until the end of the session, so that should keep all the--maybe some of the hurried typing down to a minimum. The other thing I would just ask is that you--when we call on you, just repeat, for the record of the transcript, your name and organization, and then we can go into questions. I handed out a statement and I will turn it over to President Kim. President Kim?MR. KIM: Well, th Show Less -

Working with others we've launched an Open Data for Resilience Initiative, a global effort working in 25 countries. An example is haitidata.org, which makes risk assessment data produced following... Show More + the 2010 Haiti earthquake available for anyone to download and use.Similarly, Open Data for the Horn of Africa now facilitates open access to geospatial information, data and knowledge sources about the ongoing response to the drought in the Horn of Africa.My point is simple: Farmers, fisher folk, and others around the world are using data and technology everyday to deal with increasing uncertainty brought on by climate change. In Nepal they are using PDAs – computers that fit into the palm of your hand - to collect data regarding changes in food security situations. In Chile, farmers can use low-cost mobiles to receive SMS messages about weather forecasts, market prices and even the latest cultivation practices.In India, fisher folk can use mobile phones to receive messages about weath Show Less -

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2012 – A software application developed in Argentina that teaches about energy consumption, climate change and the actions needed to reduce carbon emissions took first place in the... Show More + World Bank “Apps for Climate” competition today. “Ecofacts” was one of 14 finalists from around the world that were celebrated tonight at the Connecting for Climate event at the Newseum in Washington, DC.“From carbon calculators and classroom tools to new ways of visualizing climate data and planning policy responses, the “Apps for Climate” submissions are impressive. These developers rose to the challenge posed by the WB’s Open Climate Data Initiative and have produced some outstanding products,” said World Bank Managing Director Caroline Anstey, who gave the keynote speech at the event.“Apps for Climate” was announced in December 2011 during the United Nations COP-17 climate conference in Durban, South Africa. Developers had until March 16, 2012 to develop and submit their applications Show Less -

Kenyan hip hop artist/environmentalist Juliani to kick-off projectWashington, June 28, 2012 – So, what does climate change mean to you? This is the question Connect4Climate (C4C) and MTV will be asking... Show More + young people from around the world at the launch of "Voices4Climate", a new global photo, video, and music video competition focused on amplifying the voices of youth on the issue of climate change. The launch for the competition will be held tonight, June 28, at an event titled “Connecting for Climate: Technology, Creativity, and Action” at the Newseum in Washington, DC.Creative young people from around the world will be invited to share or sing their personal stories about climate change for the chance to win prizes and receive international recognition at the December 2012 UN Conference on Climate Change in Doha. Music video winners will spend a day with MTV editors in New York or London and have their music videos featured on MTV’s ‘Voices’ platform.“We all have within ours Show Less -

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2012 — Robert B. Zoellick today said he would join the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University and the Peterson Institute for International Economics... Show More + in Washington DC after he steps down as World Bank Group President on June 30.Zoellick will become the Peterson Institute’s first Distinguished Visiting Fellow as well as also becoming a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.“I appreciate the opportunity to engage with the scholars and practitioners at Harvard’s Belfer Center and the Peterson Institute for International Economics,” said Zoellick. “I hope to work on the intersection of economics and security, applying history to policy questions of today. Both institutions have been at the cutting edge of research and policy development, and I have benefited greatly from both in the past.”As the 11th president of the World Bank, Mr. Zoellick turned around an institution in trouble in 2007, re Show Less -

New Approach to Financing Innovations in Food Security and Agricultural Development Unveiled at G20 Summit in MexicoAgResults: Innovation in Research and DeliveryLOS CABOS, Mexico (June 18, 2012) – An... Show More + innovative initiative that will enhance global food security and improve the livelihoods of developing country farmers through prizes and other market-based incentives was announced today by G20 Leaders. With a results-driven funding model that rewards innovators for tackling some of the biggest problems in food security and agricultural development, AgResults addresses global challenges in food security and agriculture by generating market-oriented solutions. The initiative aims to achieve significant improvements in the wellbeing of the poor and vulnerable in developing countries with a fund of up to $100 million, to be administered by the World Bank. The governments of Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundat Show Less -

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2012 – The global financial crisis of 2008/09 has not sent migrant workers streaming back home, despite worsening employment prospects and anti-immigration rhetoric in some destination... Show More + countries, says a new book on migration and remittances, published by the World Bank. In fact, migrants may have mitigated some of the pain of the crisis as they tend to work for lower wages, receive fewer benefits and rely relatively little on the state, says the ‘Migration and Remittances during the Global Financial Crisis and Beyond’ book. “During the crisis, remittances continued to provide a steady source of foreign currency to developing country economies at a time when foreign aid remained flat and foreign direct investment declined sharply,” said Otaviano Canuto, Vice President, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, at the World Bank. Removing restrictions on human mobility may help enhance financial flows among nations and alleviate some of the adverse ef Show Less -